A Clark Griswold Christmas ruined, predators luring our girls on social media and Fox 2 fans and viewers mourn the loss of a meteorologist.

Who turned off the Christmas lights?

Perry Shah of Pleasant Ridge shows the broken lighting wire at his home in Pleasant Ridge, Friday, Dec. 7, 2018.

Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press

Is your front yard holiday display still lighting up the neighborhood like Times Square? Consider yourself lucky, my friend. Because all across metro Detroit, Grinches are cutting the wires on holiday lights — and your heart will NOT grow three sizes when you find out who they are.

Ferndale restaurant closing

The Conserva restaurant in Ferndale is closing.

Junfu Han
,
Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press

Just two years after opening, The Conserva in Ferndale is planning to shut its doors on Dec. 22. The restaurant specialized in exotically spiced fare, such as its chili-rubbed octopus and cocoa and cinnamon-rubbed Denver steak. The owners shared their good-bye message on Facebook to explain.

Unthinkable acts

Ever hear of MyLOL.com? Neither had we until we read this story on how 9 online predators got girls to trust them and lured them into perform unthinkable acts as part of an online sex ring. Among the girls was an Oakland County teen who helped bust the ring.

One restaurant at a time

Zaid Elia, CEO and founder of The Elia Group, is the developer behind popular spots like Parc and 220 Merrill. Here, he's at the bar in the DoubleTree Hilton in Bloomfield Hills that he's redeveloping.

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Welcome back to our Elections newsletter! OK, OK, the elections are over but there has been a flurry of political drama unfolding ever since. From Michigan's lame-duck legislature to the Pelosi problem, it's already getting ugly.

It's been a minute since we caught up on Michigan's political messes ahem, happenings. Besides, we needed another reason to use that duck head photo above. It's pretty epic, amirite? So let's jump into the latest from Lansing.

Power grabs

Michigan's lame-duck legislature is pulling out all the stops, moving several bills that appear designed to strip power from incoming Democrats. The controversial issues affected include marijuana legalization, minimum wage, paid sick leave and anti-gerrymandering. Geez, even The Onion is taking jabs at us.

Political sabotage?

Outgoing Republicans are sabotaging incoming Democrats.

Mike Thompson/Detroit Free Press

Freep cartoonist, Mike Thompson compares the GOP's last-minute power grab to political sabotage. He writes:

"Some white male Republican politicians love democracy — provided they're in the majority. And when they're not, they believe their white male privilege trumps majority rule and still entitles them to call the shots."

The Pelosi Problem

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

J. Scott Applewhite, AP

Will Nancy Pelosi add to her reign as speaker of the U.S. House? Michigan's incoming freshman class of political leaders are grappling with where they stand on Pelosi. Here's how our newest lawmakers are planning to solve their own Pelosi problem.

Fighting Fireworks

These fireworks were on sale at a Macomb County fireworks shop on Friday, June 16, 2017.

Jennifer Dixon
,
Jennifer Dixon, Detroit Free Press

We all know somebody who hates the loud boom of fireworks practically right outside their door. The baby is suddenly awake and crying, the dog is hiding in a corner and you want to curse out your neighbors. Not that we speak from experience.

So would you be satisfied by a change in Michigan's fireworks law that restricts the number of days those commercial grade fireworks can be shot off? Again, just asking for a friend. Here's how a new bill could change fireworksin Michigan.